Sign-frame.



JOHN 0. LEE. or NEW YORK, N. Y.

. SIGN-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

Application filed February 24, 1916. Serial N 0. 80,150.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1; JOHN C. Lnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State'of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sign-Frame, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a portable sign frame and is particularly adaptable for a sign the character of which is to be frequently changed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient sign frame which can be used as efficiently for independent letters as for sign-carrying strips.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a frame embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a fragment of the frame, certain parts being broken out to show the details of construction; and Fig. A is a section on line H, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is the back of the frame, preferably of rectangular contour with a border 6 on the face of the back. Supporting strips 7 are disposed transversely of the border 6 in spaced, parallel relation with each other and secured to the back of the frame, these strips forming the supports for the lower edges of the letters or strips 8 to be placed between the strips in the frame. The upper ends of the strips or letters are secured to the back of the frame by a clamp 9 which is pivotally mounted in the longitudinal parts of the border 6 in front of the strip 7. The clamp 9 is in the shape of a fiat bar having end trunnions at the upper edge which bear in the longitudinal members of the border 6. The trunnions are so engaged into the longitudinal members that a clearance is provided between the clamp and the back to easily admit the thickness of a letter or strip. The upper edge of the clamp is preferably rounded to prevent interference when moving said clamp to the operative and the inoperative positions, as shown in Fig. l. Substantially in the middle of the bar a tongue 10 is provided which extends beyond the axis of rotation of the clamp. The said tongue engages a spring 11 recessed in the back 5 whereby in the operative position the tendencyof the spring is to draw the non-pivoted edge of the clamp against the Otherwise the tendency of the spring back. 1s to maintain the clamp at right angles to the back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. A, From the above description it will be noted that in my frame strips or letters may be lnserted into position, not endwise, but from the front, by placing first the lower edge of the letters or strips on to the supporting strip 7 between the back and the upper edge of the clamp, then moving the,

clamp at the upper edge of the letters or strips into operative position whereby all the letters or strips resting on the supporting strip will be clamped against the back. When any letter of a line of letters is to be removed there is no necessity of removing all the letters to one side of a particular letter, but said letter may be taken out by simply raising the clamp 9 to the dotted position, gripping the letter at its upper edge, and removing it from the frame. Thus, a sign can be changed expeditiously and with little handling of the different letters when forming a sign.

I claim:

1. A sign frame comprising a back, a marginal border on the face of the back, supporting strips disposed within the border for receiving from. the front the lower ends of letters or strips, clamping means pivotally mounted in the borders to engage the upper ends of letters or strips, each of said clamping'members being in front and partly above the supporting strip so that the lower edge of a letter or strip is accommodated between the back and the clamp, and resilient means associated with each clamp for retaining the same in operative or in inoperative position. I

2. A sign frame comprising a back, a marginal border on the face of the back,

supporting strips disposed within the border the inner surface thereof, said tongue ex;

the back to easily admit between the backand the pivoted edge of the bar thethick- 'ness of a letter or strip, a tongue on the un derside of the bar extending beyond the axis of rotation, a spring engaged by the tongue whereby the bar may be maintained on its pivot at'right angles to the back,and supporting strips secured to the back between the borders in the rear of the flat bars adjacent the pivoted edges thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A sign frame comprising a back, marginal borders on the face ofthe back, clamps for engaging the upper edges of strips or letters pivotally'mounted in the border so that the clamp clears the back of the frame when it is moved on its pivot, the clearance being suflicient to admit between the back and the clamp the thickness of a strip or letter, resilient means associated with the clamp whereby the same can be maintained against the back orclear therefrom,-and

supportingmeans secured to the back Within the border to receive the lower edgesofstrips or letters, the cooperating supporting means of a clampabove-being located in the rear of a clamp next below, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing. witnesses.

, 7 JOHN C. LEE;-

Witnesses Y B. JoFFE, PHILIP D. ROLLI-IAUS.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. C. 

